Toni Hartill Art: The Beach - A closer look at my collection of works

Collection by Toni Hartill

Welcome to a closer look at my collection of pieces included in the group exhibition

The Beach

Paper, Books & Baskets

22 Dec 2022 - 30 Jan 2023

From Out of the Blue Studio Gallery

Opunake

View my earlier post which includes gallery information

and exhibition background HERE.

My Collection of Works

All pieces are for sale.

To purchase during the exhibition, or for enquiries,

please contact the gallery direct.

From Out of the Blue Studio Gallery

For behind-the-scenes making-of posts about each of these works

view past posts on my Instagram and/or Facebook profiles.

Driftwood Pieces

Each of these little books began with the inspiration of a piece of found driftwood. The first piece was found many years ago and was patiently awaiting its new purpose. The others followed while the muse was still present.

Books I & II evolved from an urge to reveal the imagined locations of these pieces of driftwood, taking me to far-flung places in my memories.

Discovering the worm holes inside the driftwood of Book III, when cutting it open, inspired me to focus only on the soft and gentle nature of the piece of wood itself.

The titles are lines borrowed from the song Coastline by Hollow Coves, which, for me, perfectly evoke the sense of nostalgia and reimagining of other places and times.

Book I: There’s a place I’ve dreamed of…

“There’s a place I’ve dreamed of…” by Toni Hartill

Book II: Where I can lose my mind…

“Where I can lose my mind…” by Toni Hartill

Book III: I lose all sense of time…

“I lose all sense of time…” by Toni Hartill

"Treasured"

Inspired by the subtle colours and patterns of the sea and coastal environs, the little concertina book evolved almost by accident while experimenting with mark-making and colour. The little book then sang out for a tiny box to house it, and the recently collected shells were perfect companions.

Reminiscent of a chocolate box of very special treats, this tiny piece speaks of the simple pleasure of collecting treasures and memories from the special places we visit, that forever settle in our hearts.

"Treasured" by Toni Hartill

"Weather Worn"

Created from sheets of upcycled brown packaging paper, chosen for its worn and tactile qualities, then printed with multiple textures, and layered, patched, collaged and embellished with frayed edges and stitching.

This cascade book aims to capture the essence of an old blanket,

comforter or quilt as might be used for family picnics

or camping holidays – chosen because it’s not precious, although,

in becoming a well-worn holiday companion, it gathers memories

and new meaning, and becomes ever more “precious”

with each patch and year of wear and tear.

"Weather Worn" cascade book by Toni Hartill

"Weather Worn" cascade book by Toni Hartill

"Sea Air" & "Salt Spray"

Inspired by a real-life love of escaping to sea for solace

and refreshment, these tiny worlds are created

to engage a childlike imagination of escaping from the world

to other favourite places.

"Sea Air" tin-can diorama by Toni Hartill

"Salt Spray" tin-can diorama by Toni Hartill SOLD

"A Pocket Full of Sunshine"

This little pocket-sized book is created from a series of

repurposed and upcycled monoprints

which aimed to capture the sense of

sunlight through water, and the free-flowing

form of seaweed and kelp.

"A Pocket Full of Sunshine" by Toni Hartill

"Road Trip Impressions"

"Wet Weather Driving"

These watercolour sketchbooks are part of a series inspired by views from the passenger seat during a road trip to Rotorua, in-between Auckland’s many lockdowns in 2021. Even in the rain, the landscapes of Aotearoa are uplifting and inspiring.

"Road Trip Impressions" by Toni Hartill

"Wet Weather Driving" by Toni Hartill

"Summer Essentials"

Folding, make-believe toolkits for traveling artists.

From a perpetual fascination for, and the challenge of, recreating everyday objects to imitate the real thing, these little make-believe toolkits are an imaginary artist’s must-pack essential for any summer holiday.

Created with a love for the sense of play, nostalgia and escapism that comes from engaging the imagination and the wonder of make-believe, much like paper dolls and folded paper toys.

Blue Toolkit by Toni Hartill

Green Toolkit by Toni Hartill

"Lost & Found" by Toni Hartill, Collaborative concertina book project

The Collaborative Book Project

A unifying aspect of this exhibition is a collaborative book project.

Each artist was randomly sent a concertina book, individually made by artist Wendy Watson.

We were then invited to add to, or subtract from, our assigned book in whatever way we wished, through any media and processes we desired.

My book: BEFORE

My book: DURING

Having never worked on a project such as this, I was excited for the challenge!

I wanted Wendy's marks to continue to be present amongst my added embellishments so it took time to consider and contemplate what to cover or cut away and what to enhance.

My first line of attack was to layer up blocks of colour and texture using existing lino and wood blocks. The length of the concertina was challenging as it seemed to have a mind of it's own and it kept leaping loose from the press!

I then set to printing and chopping up patterns to embellish pages.

I also relished cutting holes through pages to create windows and surprises.

Many, many discarded and reject prints were given a new lease of life as they found a new purpose embellishing the pages of the steadily fattening book.

Finally a new cover was created repurposing some beautifully

textured paper from an old, unsold artwork, of exactly the "right" colour.

I felt a bit guilty tearing off Wendy's recycled cardboard cover, as it had a lovely quality to it but I decided, after much contemplation, that I wanted a bolder, more solid cover.